Friday Night Lights @ 9pm
Tonight's episode is titled "Jumping the Gun," and it couldn't be more appropriate. First, Coach Taylor shows no mercy for Riggins after discovering him in Julie's room. Later, Eric ruffles more feathers when he not-so-politely asks Shelley (Jessalyn Gilsig) to leave without consulting Tami. Uh-oh. Then a tentatively reunited Riggins and Billy take a very risky approach to paying their mounting bills. In contrast to all this hasty decision making is Smash, who carefully considers whether he should make a verbal commitment to a college. But will his mom agree with his choice....
Moonlight @ 9pm
Josh tries to secure a conviction against a member of a notorious gang in tonight's pivotal episode. In an attempt to force Josh to drop the case, a vindictive drug lord threatens Beth, but Josh refuses to give in. Mick helps protect Beth, so the drug kingpin has Josh kidnapped. What follows has dire consequences for everyone involved.
Monk @ 9pm
The compulsive crime fighter returns (right on time, of course) with a murder investigation that leads Monk into the clutches of an enigmatic cult leader. Howie Mandel guest stars as Father, a charismatic man with a motive for murder: disposing of a former cult member. But he also has an alibi: a whole community of devoted worshippers who claim Father never left his home on the night in question. So Monk joins the group to find the clues he needs to solve the case, but instead he finds a different kind of "truth" in the orderly methods of the cult.
Ghost Whisperer @ 8pm
Last week, I actually found this to be a genuinely charming holiday episode. I thought it was creative and heartfelt without being overly sentimental. It had a good sense of humor, an original premise, and an adorable little boy as the most sympathetic character. The real story behind the ghost's letter was so sweet, and instantly made the "Scrooge-y" central character likable. I even like it that the "Santa" character never crossed over, and loved it that only children [well... and ghost whisperers] could see him. Tonight, Melinda goes to Ned's new high school to investigate what appears to be a series of hauntings.
